Mail-delivering appliance for railway-trains.



Hl' Jl APPLIANCE FOR RAILWAY TRAINS.

MAIL DELIVERING APPLICATION FILED JULY 12, 1909.

H. J. HILL. MAIL DELIVERING APPLIANCE FOR R ILWAY TRAINS APPLIQATION FILED JULY 12. 19 09. 939,688. Patented Nov..9, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HENRY J. HILL, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

MAIL-DELIVERING APPLIANCE FOR RATLJVAY-TRAINS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

Application filed July 12, 1909. Serial No. 507,214.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY J. HILL, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, 11 ve invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Delivering Appliances for Railway-Trains, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in mail delivering appliances for railway trains.

The objects which the present invention has in view are :to provide mechanism whereby the mail pouch is suspended from the side of the mail car and held safely in position until delivered therefrom by an attachment mounted at the station; to provide a mechanism for easily taking the mail pouch from its held without shock to the mechanism; to provide a mechanism for accomplishing the delivery of the pouch with ease and certainty; and to'provide a mechanism that is simple in operation and durable in con struction.

The present invention is embodied in the appliance shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is an end vew of a portion of a mail car having the delivering arm extended with the mail pouch held therein and a collecting post with its apparatus in operative position. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view showing the supporting ring and carrying arm in its normal position. Fig. 3 is a cross section of the same taken on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2. In this figure the section is taken when the ring is in the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is an enlarged detail view of the one half of the ring shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail view in side elevation of the ring shown in Fig. 2, Figs. at and 5 being separated but shown in their operative position. Fig. 6 is a side view of the pouch ring when in closed position. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the pouch ring shown in open position. Fig. 8 is a cross section taken on the line S -S in Fig. 6, of the pouch ring. Fig. 9 is a side view of the hook-like collect ing arm by means of which the mail pouch is detached from the moving train. Fig. 10 is a plan view of the hook-like collecting arm shown in Fig. 9.

Where in the accompanying drawings there is seen the figure 11-, itis used to indicate the car body upon which are mounted suitable sockets -l2 12- to receive the pivot bearings of the extension arm l3-. The arm 13 is formed in the shape shown to strengthen the construc tion. it the outer end the arm 13 is provided with a supporting ring to hold the pouch ring l%. The supporting ring is channeled in cross section, the opening or the channel extending inwardly. This ring is composed of two sections l5-- and 17-. The section 15 is rigidly formed on the arm l3 and forms the outer end thereof. It carries the hinge extensions or wings 16 16, between which the ring section 17 fits and in which it has a hearing. The section -l7- has the bearing perforation -l8 to aline with the bearing perforations 1S- in the said hinge wings. lVhen alined there is i11- troduced a pivot pin of any suitable form and construction. The section l7- is provided with two extensions 19- and -20. The extension -19 is adapted to aline I with the bottom of the sections -15--- and 17-, when the same are in operative position. The object of this extension is to receive the weight of the mail pouch and by it hold the outward end of the section l7 raised to its operative or holding position against the weight of the said section and the pull of the spring 2l. The extension 20 is vertically extended from the section -17 when in holding position, and is provided at the lower end with suitable connecting devices to engage a pulling spring -21. The other end of the spring 2lis suitably secured to an offset 22 extended from the arm 21 to receive the said spring. hen not in operation, that is, when not carrying the mail pouch, the weight of the section 17, together with the pull of the spring -2lthrows the section -l7- away from the section -15 to open the circle.

The mail pouch is carried by a ring com posed of two half sections 23 and 2d, which are suitably hinged as shown at 25. The sections -23- 24% are formed to the half of the roundsection of the complete ring. When folded together,

the two sections lap to form a complete ring of full rounded cross section. The hinge pin -25- of each section is extended to form a hook on which is hung the mail pouch.

The mail pouch for delivery is hooked to one of the said rings, which ring is then raised into position between the sections 15 and l7 of the arm l3, which arm has been rotated on its hinge connec tions into the car or brought to the opening of the side door thereof. The ring 23 2 l, together with the weight of the mail pouch sets upon the extension -l9 and by the weight of the said pouch depresses the said extension closing the section .17 hard against the inclosed ring 23 -2a. Unless the ring 23 -24 be raised off of the extension 19, it is difficult, if not impossible, to jar the ring 23 -2t out of engagement with the supporting ring l5 l7. Therefore, the arm 1 3 may be thrown outward and held against the rush of the surrounding air or the vibration and rocking of a fast moving train without danger of the said ring or mail pouch becoming loosened or disengaged from the said supporting ring or arm.

The hook on the hinge pin 25-- extends downward through the recess -27- formed by the cut away portions of the sides'of the channel formed by the sections 15 17 above the pivotal connection thereof.

To receive the mail pouch from the arm l3- and supporting ring 15 -17, there is provided an elongated hook 28, formed substantially as shown in the drawings, having an inclined upper surface, the elevation of which is at the highest point slightly less than the interior diameter of the ring -23 2d so that the said ring may pass over the highest point. This construction may, however, be changed so that the bottom rail 29 would also be inclined from the horizontal to produce an increased elevation of the upper rail 28- from the point of insertion and engagement with the ring 23 -24. The hook 28 is normally extended parallel with the railway bed and has a short section extended at right angles thereto. The highest elevation of the track 28 is preferably at the bend. It is intended that the point of highest elevation shall be such that the ring in riding to the top will have been retarded sufficiently to have lost its momentum, having only enough to carry over the said point when it will slide down the incline of the angular extension of the hook. The hook is carried upon the arm -30, which is set out from the perpendicular rod 31. Interposed between the rearward extension of the hook and the rod %3lis a spring buffer 32 formed of any suitable construction that will serve to receive the impact of the ring -23- 24L when the pouch passes over the incline at a speed suflicient to make this impact a matter of serious moment. The rod 31 is mounted in a casing 83-. There may be provided buffer springs to permit the rod -3l to rotate on its own axis to a limited extent. It is not the intention, under any circumstances, that the rotation of the rod 8l should permit the end of the hook 28 29 to approach dangerously near the car body 11.

lVith an appliance such as described mounted on the car and on the platform of the station, the operation of delivering the mail is as follows :The operator in the car places the mail pouch on the hook 25 of the ring 23- 24, closing the said sections 23- 24 and placing them, together with the mail pouch, between the sections -15 17 over the extension 19 thereof. As before stated, the weight of the pouch and the ring 23 24 upon the said extension '19 closes the sections hard together. In this position the arm -13 is rotated outward upon its pivots to its operative position where it hangs when approaching the station.

The ring 23 24 is not limited in size except by convenience for handling, therefore, the size is such that it provides for all ordinary vibration, or rocking, 011 the part of the train, so that the end of the hook 28 -29 will enter within the ring in any posit-ion of the same due to the said vibration or rocking. Being in position, the pointed end turned toward the oncoming train and in the path of the ring -23- 24L, the point enters Within said ring which strikes upon the inclined rail -28, and is caused to travel upward over the same toward the bend in the same.

As the ring -23 -24i is raised, the weight of the pouch and ring is lifted from the extension 19 of the section 17--, thereby permitting the weight of the said section and the pull of the spring 21- to throw the section 17 away from the section 15- and thereby open to its fullest extent the supporting ring -15 17. By this means any disposition on the part of the supporting ring to retain its grasp upon the ring 23 --24 is avoided, for by the time the said ring 23- 24 begins to follow the track of the incline of the hook 28 and to fall behind the travel of the car, the supporting ring l5 ---17 is thrown open as described. The mail car passes on leaving the pouch with its ring 23 2 l caught between the rearward decline of the hook -28 and the buffer The station agent now takes the pouch from its position on the arm 30 by opening the sections 23 -2t, and rotating them about their hinge 25 until the two sections are thrown open as shown in Fig. 7 of drawing.

In the operation of a system equipped with the appliances herein described, the rings 23- 2& would be returned to the issuing station as are the mail pouches by the present system.

Having thus described this l11V6l1ll-l011,Wl1tlt is claimed is 1. A mail delivering appliance comprising a hinged extension arm carried by the mail car adapted to swing outward from said mail car and having a supporting device consisting in hinged sections to be closed by the weight of the mail pouch; a pouch carrying device adapted to hold said pouch and to be carried by said supporting device; and means embodying an inclined extension adapted to raise the said pouch carrying device out of engagement with said supporting device.

A mail delivering appliance comprising a hinged extension arm carried by the mail car adapted to swing outward from said mail car and having a ringlike supporting device at the outer end, said device consisting in two quarter segments of a channeled ring suitably hinged together; a ring to carry the mail pouch adapted to rest within and maintain in closed relation the said quarter segments; and means embodying an inclined extension adapted to enter the said ring to raise the same out of engagement with the said quarter segments.

3. A mail delivering appliance comprising a hinged extension arm carried by the mail car adapted to swing outward from said mail car, and having at the outer end two channeled segments 01 a ring suitably hinged together, one of said segments having an extension forming part of the channel or" the other segment; a ring to carry the mail pouch adapted to rest within and to maintain in closed relation the said segments by resting upon the said extension of the one segment; and means embodying an inclined extension adapted to enter the said ring to raise the same out of engagement with the said extensionof the segment.

4. A mail delivering appliance comprising a hinged extension arm carried by the mail car adapted to swing outward from said mail car and having a ring-like supporting device at the outer end, said device consisting in two quarter segments of a channeled ring suitably hinged together; a ring having a diameter greater than the rocking movement of the mail car to carry the mail pouch and adapted to rest within and maintain in closed relation the said quarter segments; and means embodying an inclined extension adapted to enter the said ring to raise the same out of engagement with the said quarter segments.

5. A mail delivering appliance comprising a hinged extension arm carried by the mail car adapted to swing outward from said mail car, and having at the outer end two channeled segments of a ring suitably hinged together, one of said segments having an extension forming part of the channel ot' the other segment; a ring having a diameter greater than the rocking movement of the mail car to carry the mail pouch and adapted to rest within and to maintain in closed relation the said segments by resting upon the said extension of the one segment; and means embodying an inclined extension adapted to enter the said ring to raise the same out of engagement with the said extension of the segment.

6. A mail delivering appliance comprising a hinged extension arm carried by the mail car adapted to swing outward from said mail car and having a ring-like supporting device at the outer end, said device consisting in two quarter segments of a channeled ring suitably hinged together; a ring to carry the mail pouch adapted to rest within and maintain in closed relation the said quarter segments; means embodying an inclined extension adapted to enter the said ring to raise the same out of engagement with the said quarter segments; and a receiving appliance having a wedge-shaped hook-like extension mounted on the station parallel to the railway and in the path of the said ring and inclined to above the path of the same.

7. A mail delivering appliance comprising a hinged extension arm carried by the mail car adapted to swing outward from said mail car, and having at the outer end two channeled segments of a ring suitably hinged together, one of said segments having an extension forming partof the channel of the other segment; a ring to carry the mail pouch adapted to rest within and to maintain in closed relation the said segments by resting upon the said extension of the one segment; means embodying an inclined extension adapted to enter the said ring to raise the same out of engagement with the said extension of the segment; and a receiving appliance having a wedge-shaped hook-like extension mounted on the station parallel to the railway and in the path of the said ring and inclined to above the path of the same.

8. A mail delivering appliance comprising a hinged extension arm carried by the mail car adapted to swing outward from said mail car and having a ring-like sup porting device at the outer end, said device consisting in two quarter segments of a channeled ring suitably hinged together; a ring having a diameter greater than the rocking movement of the mail car to carry the mail pouch and adapted to rest within and maintain in closed relation the said quarter segments; means embodying an in- &

clined extension adapted to enter the said ring to raise the same out of engagement with the said quarter segments; and a receiving appliance having a wedge-shaped hook-like extension mounted on the station parallel to the railway and in the path of the said ring and inclined to above the path of the same.

9. A mail delivering appliance comprising a hinged extension arm carried by the mail car adapted to swing outward from said mail car, and having at the outer end two channeled segments of a ring suitably hinged together, one of said segments hav ing an extension forming partof the channel of the other segment; a ring having a diameter greater than the rocking movement of the mail car to carry the mail pouch and adapted to rest within and to maintain in closed relation the said segments. by resting upon the said extension of the one segment; means embodying an inclined extension adapted to enter the said ring to raise the same out of engagement with the said extension of the segment; and a receiving appliance having a wedge-shaped hook-like extension mounted on the station parallel to the railway and in the path of the said ring and inclined to above the path of the same.

10. A mail delivering appliance comprising a hinged extension arm carried by the mail car adapted to swing outward from said mail car and having a channeled ringlike supporting device at the outer end; a ring to carry the mail pouch adapted to rest within the said supporting device, said ring consisting in two hinged and folding sections adapted to pass each other to form a closed ring; and means embodying an inclined extension adapted to enter the said ring and to raise the same out of engagement with the said supporting device.

11. A mail delivering appliance comprising a hinged extension arm carried by the mail. car adapted to swing outward from said mail car and having a ring-like supporting device at the outer end, said device consisting in two quarter segments of a channeled ring suitably hinged togethe'; a ring to carry the mail pouch adapted to rest within the said segments, said ring consisting in two hinged and folding sections adapted to pass each other to form a closed ring; and means embodying an inclined extension adapted to enter the said ring to raise the same out of engagement with the said quarter segments.

12. A mail delivering appliance comprising a hinged extension arm carried by the mail car adapted to swing outward from said mail car, and having at the outer end two channeled segments of a ring suitably hinged together, one of said segments having an extension forming part of the channel of the other segment; a ring to carry the mail pouch adapted to rest within the said segments, said ring consisting in two hinged and folding sections adapted to pass each other to form a closed ring; and means embodying an inclined extension adapted to enter the said ring to raise the same out of engagement with the said extension of the segment.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 5th day of June A. D. 1909.

HENRY J. HILL. lVitnesses:

FRANK M. ASHLEY, M. S. MILLER. 

